Mission Lead - CENTCOM AOR (GCC Based)

NODA AI; Bahrain; On-site; BHD 30,080 - 45,120; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mission-dependent OCONUS travel

Deployment uplifts and per diem

Company-covered travel and logistics support

Job summary

NODA AI is seeking a Mission Lead for the CENTCOM AOR based in Bahrain. In this role, you will lead deployments and coordinate stakeholders to ensure mission success across the GCC region. Candidates should have over 5 years of program delivery leadership in defense environments and experience working with U.S. Military or government stakeholders. The position requires an active Secret clearance and offers OCONUS travel opportunities, as well as support for logistics and living expenses during operations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of program or technical delivery leadership in defense or mission-critical environments.
• Direct OCONUS deployment or in-theater leadership experience.
• Active Secret clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Lead deployments across NAVCENT, AFCENT, ARCENT, MARCENT, SOCCENT environments.
• Coordinate execution across GCC installations and forward locations.
• Manage logistics: visas, customs, and installation access.

Skills

Program delivery leadership

Technical delivery in defense environments

Experience with U.S. Military or government stakeholders

Complex systems fluency

Job description

Mission Lead – CENTCOM AOR (GCC Based)

Location: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE (Home office: Austin, TX)
Travel: Mission-dependent, 60–75% OCONUS
Clearance: Active Secret required

About NODA

NODA is a veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company transforming how unmanned systems collaborate in complex, mission-critical environments. Our distributed orchestration platform enables autonomous coordination of heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space with vital applications in defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors.

The Role

As Mission Lead – Customer Solutions, you are the in-theater owner of program delivery, customer success, and operational outcomes across the CENTCOM AOR. You lead deployments, coordinate stakeholders, and ensure mission execution across Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead deployments across NAVCENT, AFCENT, ARCENT, MARCENT, SOCCENT environments
• Coordinate execution across GCC installations and forward locations
• Interface with Security Cooperation Offices (SCOs), U.S. Embassies, and host-nation stakeholders
• Manage logistics: visas, customs, export controls, and installation access
• Own delivery timelines, customer success, and operational outcomes
• Bridge field operations with U.S.-based engineering teams
• Capture operational feedback and drive product improvements

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years program or technical delivery leadership in defense or mission-critical environments
• Direct OCONUS deployment or in-theater leadership experience
• Experience working with U.S. Military or government stakeholders
• Familiarity with CENTCOM AOR or similar environments
• Technical fluency in complex systems (autonomy, robotics, or distributed systems)
• Active Secret clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with SOFA, DCA, and installation access requirements
• Experience navigating export controls and logistics
• Prior experience in GCC or adjacent theaters

What We Offer

• Mission-dependent OCONUS travel (60–75%)
• Deployment uplifts and per diem during in-theater operations
• Company-covered travel, lodging, and logistics support

Growth Path

Mission Lead → Regional Lead → International Program Director / Product / Business Development Leadership

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, age, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.